Scorify.uzThe question
In many countries, young people are leaving villages and small towns to live in big cities. What problems does this cause, and what can be done to encourage them to stay?
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
This is a problem and solution question with two clear parts, so give each its own paragraph. Name two or three problems for the countryside and then offer solutions that match them, such as jobs, services and internet access.
Essay plan
- Introduction: Paraphrase the trend and say what you will cover: the problems and some solutions.
- Body 1: problems: Ageing villages, closing schools and shops, labour shortages in farming, and overcrowding in cities.
- Body 2: solutions: Create local jobs, improve broadband and transport, build housing, and offer incentives to those who stay or return.
- Conclusion: Summarise the problems and the main solution.
Band 7+ sample essay
Across the world, rural communities are shrinking as young adults head for large cities in search of work and education. This trend creates serious difficulties for the places they leave behind, but there are practical ways to make country life more attractive.
The first problem is demographic. When the young depart, villages are left with an older population, and this makes it hard to keep local schools, clinics and shops open. As services close, the area becomes even less appealing, and a cycle of decline begins. Agriculture also suffers because farms lack workers, which may threaten food production in the long run. Meanwhile, the cities that receive these migrants face overcrowding, rising rents and heavier traffic.
Several measures could help. Most importantly, governments should encourage businesses to create jobs outside the big cities, for instance through tax reductions for companies that open small factories or offices in the regions. Fast internet is equally essential, because it allows people to work remotely for employers anywhere. Improving bus and train links would also make it possible to live in a village and still reach a larger town easily.
In addition, authorities could offer affordable land or housing grants to young families, and scholarships for medical or teaching graduates who agree to work in rural areas for a number of years. Such programmes have helped to fill vacancies in remote communities.
In conclusion, the departure of young people leads to ageing villages, lost services and crowded cities. Providing local employment, reliable connections and housing support is the most realistic way to persuade them to stay.
262 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- rural communities — groups of people living in the countryside
- demographic — relating to the structure of a population
- cycle of decline — a situation that keeps getting worse
- labour shortage — not enough workers
- overcrowding — too many people in one place
- work remotely — work away from the office, often from home
- housing grant — money given to help pay for a home
- vacancy — a job that is available
Common mistakes on this question
- Listing problems only or solutions only; both parts must be answered fully.
- Offering solutions that do not match the problems, such as new cinemas when the problem is jobs.
- Blaming young people for being selfish rather than analysing the causes.
Study guides
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Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a problem and solution question. This is a problem and solution question with two clear parts, so give each its own paragraph. Name two or three problems for the countryside and then offer solutions that match them, such as jobs, services and internet access.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.